There have been questions lately about the role of governments vs. ICANN "oversight" of ccTLDs, etc. etc. On November 6, in our cover letter to the US Government, we explicitly confirmed our recognition of national sovereignty. Here's what we wrote: "You asked us to confirm your "assumption that national governments would continue to have authority to manage and/or establish policy for their own ccTLDs (except, of course, insofar as such policies adversely affect universal connectivity on the Internet)." We are happy to confirm that assumption, but we note that the details of implementation of this objective may be complex. It may well be that this is an example of an issue where the Governmental Advisory Committee could provide a useful forum for discussions and advice to the Board." But there is a difference between "oversight" and mutually agreed contracts. We plan to have contracts with ccTLD administrators, as well as with many other Internet parties. Of course, as the letter notes, things are not always simple.... I hope that clarifies things a little. Esther Dyson Esther Dyson Always make new mistakes! chairman, EDventure Holdings interim chairman, Internet Corp. for Assigned Names & Numbers [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1 (212) 924-8800 1 (212) 924-0240 fax 104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor) New York, NY 10011 USA http://www.edventure.com PC Forum: 21 to 24 March 1999, Scottsdale (Phoenix), Arizona High-Tech Forum in Europe: 24 to 26 October 1999, Budapest Book: "Release 2.0: A design for living in the digital age" __________________________________________________ To receive the digest version instead, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE forward this message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNSUBSCRIBE, forward this message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Problems/suggestions regarding this list? Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___END____________________________________________
